Fluxer stirring-arm



G. KOMAREK.

FLUXER STIRRING ARM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24, 1920.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. KOMAREK.

FLUXER STIRRINGARM.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 24 1920.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fizverziar 'uaiau/fama reir UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAV KOMAREK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO ST. LOUIS BRIQUETTEMACHINE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

FLUXER STIRRING-ARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 8, 1921.

Application filed May 24, 1920. Serial No. 383,764.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUsrAv KOMAREK, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, Illinois, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Fluxer Stirring- Arms, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates generally to fluxers or mechanical mixingapparatus, and more specifically to a stirring arm that is particularlydesigned for fluxers or mixing machines that are utilized for thetreatment and mixing of plastic material which, after being properlyprepared, is compressed into fuel briquets, such form of fluxer beingdisclosed in my copending application filed April 1, 1919, Serial Number286,788.

The principal objects of my invention are, to generally improve upon andsimplify the construction of the form of stirring arm disclosed in myapplication aforesaid, as well as other forms of stirring armsheretofore used in fluxers and mixing machines, and to provide arelatively simple and easily produced stirring arm which, in operation,will produce an intense kneading action upon the material undertreatment.

It will be understood that the material used in the manufacture of fuelbriquets generally includes a large percentage of pulverizedcarbonaceous material and a certain proportion of suitable binder which,before being mixed with the carbonaceous material, is in liquid orsemi-liquid form. Fuel briquets to meet the requirements of users shouldbe of homogeneous structure and of uniform density throughout theirbodies and in order to produce briquets having these desirablequalities, I have demonstrated, by repeated experiments and tests, thatthe binder used in the briqueting material must be thoroughly spread ordistributed over the surfaces of the particles of pulverizedcarbonaceous material. To achieve the results just noted, I havedesigned the particular form of stirring arm herein disclosed.

My improved stirring arm is constructed so thatit passes through theplastic material with a plowing action so that the binder and particlesof pulverized material are ing drawings,

brought into direct contact with each other many tlmes due to theirmovements over the active surfaces of the stirring arms and the peculiarshape of the stirring arm permits it to pass through the material undertreatment with the expenditure of minimum power.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my lnvention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts,hereinafter more fully'described and claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a horizontal section of afiuxer or mixing machine and showing stirring arms of my improvedconstruction carried by the shafts that extend through the fiuxer.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail section taken approximately on the line 33of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the outer end of one of the stirring arms.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged end elevational view of one of the stirring arms.

Referring by numerals to the accompany- 10 designates a suitablehouslIlg or receptacle, the space within which forms a fluxing chamberand journaled in suitable bearings in the end walls of this housing areshafts 11 which pass through the fluxing chamber and carry stirring armsof my improved construction.

' Formed in the bottom of the housing 10 is a discharge opening 12 thatis controlled by a suitable valve or gate. Each stirring arm is formedfrom a single piece of metal, either cast or dropforged, and its innerend takes the form of a block 13 that is substantially rectangular whenviewed in plan and being provided in its underside with a transverselydisposed notch or recess 14 for the accommodation of the shaft to whichthe arm is fixed.

In order to firmly secure the arm to the shaft, I prefer to combine withthe block 13 a companion block 15 and to clamp the two blocks togetherupon the shaft 11 by bolts such as 16. If desired, suitable keys may bearranged between the shaft 11 and the blocks 13 and 15. The main bodyportion of the stirring arm and which is formed integral with the block10 is substantially of inverted V-shape in cross section, therebyforming a pair of connected webs or plates 17 that are disposed inplanes approximately ninety (90) degrees apart and the inner edges ofthe outer faces 18 of said webs or plates uniting to form the apex orforward edge 19 of the arm.

The outer terminal portions of the webs 17 are extended laterally asdesignated by 20, thereby forming a widened end portion for each arm,and as a result of suclrconstruction, the outer portions of theextensions 20 of one arm overlap or extend beyond the paths of travel ofthe corresponding extensions on the adjacent arms when a series of thelatter are properly positioned upon the fluxer shaft, thereby insuringthe stirring of all of the material within the fluxing chamber andparticularly the material that lies adjacent to the bottom wall of saidfluxer.

The body of the stirring arm is constructed so that it curves graduallyfrom the block 18 to the widened outer end portion, such curvature beingin a rearward direction with respect to the plane occupied by said blockand with respect to the direction of movement of the stirring arm.

The outer faces 18 of the main body portions of the stirring arm aremade preferably flat, as illustrated in Fig. 4, but the outer faces ofthe widened ends of the webs are formed slightly concave as illustratedin Fig. 6, such formation being very effective in producing a thoroughcoating of the pulverized material with the binder while the briquetingmaterial is under treatment.

In action my improved stirring arms which, as stated, are substantiallyV-shape in cross section, plow or cut through the material undertreatment in such a manner as to divide the material, and that portionof the material which makes direct contact with the inclined outer facesof the arm passes outwardly in both directions over said inclined faces,the action being one of rubbing contact and as a result, the pulverizedor finely divided particles of carbonaceous material will be veryquickly and evenly coated with the liquid or semi-liquid binder.

It will be understood that a considerable number of the mixing arms arelocatedon each shaft within the mixing receptacle and as the armscarried by one shaft intersect the path of travel of the arms on theother shaft, the entire volume of material under treatment will beconstantly agitated and mixed in such a manner as to insure the completecoating of the particles of carbonaceous material with the binder. As aresult of this thorough mixing and coating of the separate particles ofthe carbonaceous material, the briquets that are formed from saidmaterial will be homogeneous and of uniform density throughout theirbodies.

By operating the shafts 11 toward each other as indicated by the arrowsin Fig. 2, the material under treatment is constantly forced outwardaway from the center of the mixing chamber, which action is due tothereceding curvature of the arms. This action is particularly beneficialas the material under treatment receives a more intense kneading actionon the outside of the arms and the mixing operation is materiallyenhanced by the widening of the ends of the arms, for by sucharrangement, the extended end portions of each arm extend beyond thepath of travel of the extended portions of the adjacent arms.

A stirring arm of my improved construction is comparatively simple, canbe easily and cheaply produced, and is very effective in performing itsintended functions.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form andconstruction of the various parts of my improved stirring arm can bemade and substituted for those herein shown and described, withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is setforth in the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

A stirring arm for mixing machines having its main body portion curvedrearware tion being substantially V-shaped in cross section, the apex ofthe V being forwardly presented and the outer end thereof havinglaterally extending wings or extensions whose outer faces are slightlyconcave.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature this 19th day of May,1920.

GUSTAV KOMAREK.

lly throughout its length, said body por-

